Saratoga Springs families speak after teen arrested in 2025 double-murder case
A 16-year-old was taken into custody on Friday for the 2025 killings of Jessica Orton Lyman and her son Eli Painter, prompting statements from their families.
Following the Friday booking of a 16-year-old suspect in the 2025 murders of Jessica Orton Lyman and her eight-year-old son Eli Painter, both families released statements. The Orton family said they are leaning on one another, their faith, and the community while awaiting answers. Jason Painter, Eli's father, praised the police work and described the arrest as an important milestone, though it does not ease the family's grief.
Saratoga Springs Police Chief Andrew Burton reported that investigators have carried out dozens of search warrants, reviewed extensive video, and gathered hundreds of items of evidence, with additional interviews still in progress. The teen remains in a juvenile detention facility as the case proceeds.
Why it matters
The arrest marks a significant development in a long-running double-murder investigation, offering the victims' families a step toward closure.
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